E-Mobile Linux Platform by ARM and 6 Partners

UK-based ARM is looking to develop a Linux platform for mobile devices in cooperation with six partners.

The chip manufacturer aims to optimize the free operating system for ARM processors in cooperation with Marvell, MontaVista, Movial, Mozilla, Samsung and Texas. The group promises a "truly always on" platform as a result. The Connected Mobile Computing (CMC) project was presented at the ARM developer conference California. The new Linux-based platform will be presented early in 2008, and the first devices to use it will become available in 2009.

The partners are looking to provide a standard version of Linux with additional applications that run on ARM's Systems on Chips (SoC). The system will use the Gnome Mobile desktop and Mozilla's Firefox Web browser, and will be released under an Open Source license. The developers will be focusing in particular on graphics, video, multimedia and Internet functionality. The main features of the mobile platform according to ARM will be battery life, software integration and a powerful Web browser

Market researcher Jim McGregor, Enabling Technologies Group, sees considerable potential according to a statement by ARM: "The market for ultra mobile devices is expected to grow at over a 20 percent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) through the next decade." Competition is already in full swing. Competitor Intel announced a Linux operating system for x86-based mini PCs in April 2007. It will be marketed under the "Mobile Internet Devices" (MID) umbrella. Intel's partner is Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu Linux.

End of last week ARM Ltd and Canonical Ltd announced that they would port Linux to the ARMv7 processor architecture. If all goes well, the two collaborating firms should provide further hardware manufacturers with the basis to develop new, energy-efficient mobile devices, especially for the popular netbooks and so-called hybrid computers.